Police, community and calendar briefs for Aug. 31, 2014

Published: Saturday, August 30, 2014 at 11:10 p.m.

Last Modified: Saturday, August 30, 2014 at 11:10 p.m.

A man robbed a cellphone business on West Silver Springs Boulevard on Friday and escaped with an undetermined amount of cash.

An employee at Metro PC at 1500 W. Silver Springs Blvd. told officers he saw a man standing outside the building for awhile. The man then entered the store, hung around and asked several questions.

The employee said he finally told the individual that he needed to buy something, pay a bill or leave because he “was not going to get free air conditioning,” according to police. At that point, the person pulled out a gun and demanded cash.

The worker said he asked the man “are you kidding?” to which the man cycled the slide on the gun. The employee then opened the register and gave the gunman cash.

The man then fled the store.

The robber was described as a black man in his mid-20s, approximately 6 feet tall, weighing about 140 pounds. He was last seen wearing a large tan hat, black shirt, navy-blue sweatpants and tan Crocs shoes, police said.

Anyone with information about the robbery can call the OPD at 369-7000, Crime Stoppers at 368-STOP, text a tip to 274637 using keyword 368-STOP, or visit www.ocalacrimestoppers.com.

Woman accused of Wal-Mart thefts

A 36-year-old woman with a history of convictions for theft was taken into custody by an Ocala police officer on Friday and charged with felony retail theft.

Officer Matthew Friedman went to Wal-Mart at 2600 SW 19th Avenue Road and met with a loss prevention officer. The official told Friedman that a woman, later identified as Tiffany Ellen Mince, entered the building, removed clothing from the hangers, placed them in a shopping cart and walked toward the electronics section.

The employee said that, while walking, Mince took a black shirt and put it on. She then walked to the grocery section, where she took food and then went to the fitting room.

Leaving the fitting room, Mince was wearing the clothing she had taken from the hangers, and then left the store without paying for the clothing or the food, police said. At that point, she was detained by Wal-Mart employees. While talking with Mince, the officer said she was eating the food she had taken.

Arrested, Mince was taken to the Marion County Jail. On the way to the jail, she complained that she was going to pass out. She was taken to a hospital, where she was checked out and taken to the jail. She told the officer that she had been doing crack, ice and meth for the last few days, police said.

State records show Mince has been in and out of prison for various offenses — including grand theft and retail petit theft — and has been released since June 2013.

Dunnellon man, 61, reported missing

Marion County Sheriff’s Office needs assistance in locating a 61-year-old Dunnellon man who is disabled following a stroke and has been missing since Thursday afternoon.

The man, Timothy Andrew Howk, was last seen around 4 p.m. at a friend’s home in the 7700 block of Southwest 150th Street in Dunnellon.

The friend told deputies that he went inside for a few minutes and, when he returned, Howk was gone.

Howk is 5 feet 9 inches tall and 160 pounds with brown eyes, black and gray neck-length hair and tattoos on his arms. He has diminished mental capacity because of the stroke, officials said.

Anyone with information can call the MCSO at 732-9111 or Crime Stoppers at 368-STOP, text a tip to 274637 using keyword 368-STOP or visit www.ocalacrimestoppers.com.

COMMUNITY

Time to Talk Summit set for Thursday

A No More Silence It’s Time to Talk Summit will be held from 5:30 to 8 p.m. Thursday at the College of Central Florida, Klein Conference Center, 3001 SW College Road, Ocala.

The free event will include dinner and guest speakers Teresa White, Area 3/13 Minority AIDS Program Coordinator, State of Florida Department of Health; and Detective Michael Dodd of the Marion County Sheriff’s Office.

The event includes separate workshops for parents and teens (must be 12 or older) on healthy relationships and the consequences of bad relationships, STD/HIV prevention and education, Internet safety, substance abuse, dating violence and domestic violence.

Reservations are not required. For more information, call 438-5990.

Benefit will aid family that lost home in fire

Local communities and churches will host a benefit program with songs and prayer for Sister Geneatha “Jenny” Terry Johnson and her family, who lost their home in a fire, at 3 p.m. Saturday at Ramah Missionary Baptist Church, 10545 SE 58th Ave., Belleview.

Following the program, dinner will be served at the Little Lake Weir Prayer House, 14226 SE 100th Ave., Summerfield.

A free, six-week training course for people who are caregivers of family members and friends with any form of dementia will take place from 1 to 3 p.m. each Wednesday, beginning this week, at Hawthorne Estates, 3211 SW 42nd St., Ocala.

<p>POLICE BEAT</p><p><strong>Man robs Metro PC store, takes cash</strong></p><p>A man robbed a cellphone business on West Silver Springs Boulevard on Friday and escaped with an undetermined amount of cash.</p><p>An employee at Metro PC at 1500 W. Silver Springs Blvd. told officers he saw a man standing outside the building for awhile. The man then entered the store, hung around and asked several questions.</p><p>The employee said he finally told the individual that he needed to buy something, pay a bill or leave because he “was not going to get free air conditioning,” according to police. At that point, the person pulled out a gun and demanded cash.</p><p>The worker said he asked the man “are you kidding?” to which the man cycled the slide on the gun. The employee then opened the register and gave the gunman cash.</p><p>The man then fled the store.</p><p>The robber was described as a black man in his mid-20s, approximately 6 feet tall, weighing about 140 pounds. He was last seen wearing a large tan hat, black shirt, navy-blue sweatpants and tan Crocs shoes, police said.</p><p>Anyone with information about the robbery can call the OPD at 369-7000, Crime Stoppers at 368-STOP, text a tip to 274637 using keyword 368-STOP, or visit www.ocalacrimestoppers.com.</p><p><strong>Woman accused of Wal-Mart thefts</strong></p><p>A 36-year-old woman with a history of convictions for theft was taken into custody by an Ocala police officer on Friday and charged with felony retail theft.</p><p>Officer Matthew Friedman went to Wal-Mart at 2600 SW 19th Avenue Road and met with a loss prevention officer. The official told Friedman that a woman, later identified as Tiffany Ellen Mince, entered the building, removed clothing from the hangers, placed them in a shopping cart and walked toward the electronics section.</p><p>The employee said that, while walking, Mince took a black shirt and put it on. She then walked to the grocery section, where she took food and then went to the fitting room.</p><p>Leaving the fitting room, Mince was wearing the clothing she had taken from the hangers, and then left the store without paying for the clothing or the food, police said. At that point, she was detained by Wal-Mart employees. While talking with Mince, the officer said she was eating the food she had taken.</p><p>Arrested, Mince was taken to the Marion County Jail. On the way to the jail, she complained that she was going to pass out. She was taken to a hospital, where she was checked out and taken to the jail. She told the officer that she had been doing crack, ice and meth for the last few days, police said.</p><p>State records show Mince has been in and out of prison for various offenses — including grand theft and retail petit theft — and has been released since June 2013.</p><p><strong>Dunnellon man, 61, reported missing</strong></p><p>Marion County Sheriff's Office needs assistance in locating a 61-year-old Dunnellon man who is disabled following a stroke and has been missing since Thursday afternoon.</p><p>The man, Timothy Andrew Howk, was last seen around 4 p.m. at a friend's home in the 7700 block of Southwest 150th Street in Dunnellon.</p><p>The friend told deputies that he went inside for a few minutes and, when he returned, Howk was gone.</p><p>Howk is 5 feet 9 inches tall and 160 pounds with brown eyes, black and gray neck-length hair and tattoos on his arms. He has diminished mental capacity because of the stroke, officials said.</p><p>Anyone with information can call the MCSO at 732-9111 or Crime Stoppers at 368-STOP, text a tip to 274637 using keyword 368-STOP or visit www.ocalacrimestoppers.com.</p><p> </p><p>COMMUNITY</p><p><strong>Time to Talk Summit set for Thursday</strong></p><p>A No More Silence It's Time to Talk Summit will be held from 5:30 to 8 p.m. Thursday at the College of Central Florida, Klein Conference Center, 3001 SW College Road, Ocala.</p><p>The free event will include dinner and guest speakers Teresa White, Area 3/13 Minority AIDS Program Coordinator, State of Florida Department of Health; and Detective Michael Dodd of the Marion County Sheriff's Office.</p><p>The event includes separate workshops for parents and teens (must be 12 or older) on healthy relationships and the consequences of bad relationships, STD/HIV prevention and education, Internet safety, substance abuse, dating violence and domestic violence.</p><p>Reservations are not required. For more information, call 438-5990.</p><p><strong>Benefit will aid family that lost home in fire</strong></p><p>Local communities and churches will host a benefit program with songs and prayer for Sister Geneatha “Jenny” Terry Johnson and her family, who lost their home in a fire, at 3 p.m. Saturday at Ramah Missionary Baptist Church, 10545 SE 58th Ave., Belleview.</p><p>Following the program, dinner will be served at the Little Lake Weir Prayer House, 14226 SE 100th Ave., Summerfield.</p><p>Clothing needed includes women's size 22 and women's shoes size 10-11; men's size 2X shirts, men's pants size 34-36 and men's shoes size 12; and girls' size 6X clothing and size 1½ shoes.</p><p>For more information, call 615-1074 or 245-5932.</p><p><strong>Caregiver training program offered</strong></p><p>A free, six-week training course for people who are caregivers of family members and friends with any form of dementia will take place from 1 to 3 p.m. each Wednesday, beginning this week, at Hawthorne Estates, 3211 SW 42nd St., Ocala.</p><p>Attendance will be limited to 15 people.</p><p>To register, contact Tom Rinkoski at 378-6649, ext. 126, or rinkoskit@agingresources.org.</p><p>CALENDAR</p><p><b>TODAY</b></p><p>PAINTBALL: Wayne's World of Paintball free-for-all days, registration, 9:30 a.m.; first game, 10 a.m.; last game, 4:30 p.m., 4841 S. Pine Ave., Ocala. Free admission, rental equipment, air. Paint not included. (401-1801 or www.waynes-world.com)</p><p>DANCE: The Sunday “NITE” Dance, 7 to 10 p.m., Recreation Plantation, 609 County Road 466 and Rolling Acres Road in Lady Lake, $10, everyone welcomed. (304-8672)</p><p>GATHERING: Vereen Family and Friends Weekend 2014, 8:15 a.m. with 11 a.m. service, Silver River State Park, 1425 NE 58th Ave., Ocala. (vereenfamily14@yahoo.com or 207-8175) $5 and covered dish. T-shirts available for $10.</p><p>MOOSE LODGE: Pot Luck Sunday 4 to 6 p.m., Bubbles Karaoke 4 p.m. (entertainment in the social quarters), open to members and qualified guests. West Marion Moose Lodge #2356, 10411 SW 110th St. (854-2200)</p><p>FARM: Noon to 4 p.m. today and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday, Uncle Donald's Farm, 2713 Griffin Ave, Lady Lake. Farm animal encounter, walk through the Wildlife Center, hayride and use of the picnic area. $9.75. Proceeds donated to Christian Food Pantry and the Leesburg Food Bank (753-2882, www.uncledonaldsfarm.com)</p><p>DUPLICATE BRIDGE CLUB: Games; stratified open, 1:30 p.m. Sunday; stratified non-life masters, 10:15 a.m. Tuesday; stratified open and stratified non-life masters, 10:15 p.m. Wednesdays; and stratified open, 10:15 a.m. Thursdays. Ocala Duplicate Bridge Club, 516 NE Sanchez Ave., Ocala. (629-3322 or www.bridgescore.com/ocaladbc)</p><p>ADULT WORKSHOP: “I've Got Rhythm” adult tap classes, ages 15 and older, 6:30 to 8 p.m., Ocala Civic Theatre, 4337 E. Silver Springs Blvd., Ocala. $30 for five weeks or $10 drop-in rate. (236-2274)</p><p>YOGA: Noon, Power Yoga Ocala, 3315 E. Silver Springs Blvd. (www.poweryogaocala.com or 361-3619)</p><p>MENTAL HEALTH: The National Alliance on Mental Illness offers support groups for individuals living with and recovering from mental illness. (368-2405 or info@NAMIOcala.org)</p><p>ABUSE SUPPORT: Support for sexually and physically abused youth, non-offending family members and caregivers, Serenity Christian Counseling, St. Mark's United Methodist Church, 1839 NE Eighth Ave. Road, Ocala. (622-4475)</p><p>NICOTINE ANONYMOUS: 12-step program to stop nicotine use, 7 a.m. daily, 2002 NW 13th St., Ocala. (377-6009)</p><p>COUNSELING: Counseling and mentoring services, Bethesda Cares. (566-7586 or info@bethesda-worship-center.org)</p><p>STORYTIMES: Storytimes at all branches of the Marion County Public Library. Times, ages and dates vary. (671-8551)</p><p> </p><p><b>Monday</b></p><p>LABOR DAY PICNIC: Central Florida UAW Retirees, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., American Legion Hall, 516 NE Sanchez Ave., Ocala. Balloons, face painting, food to celebrate the working family. Free. (622-1738)</p><p>OPEN HOUSE: Ginger Open House at Tom Wood Nursery, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., 18407 SW 188th St., Archer. (gingers@gator.net or 495-9168)</p><p>BIG SUN: Barbershop Chorus, 6:30 p.m. Mondays, Ocala West Methodist Church, 9330 SW 105th St., Ocala. (804-7464)</p><p>COUNTRY MUSIC: Live country music and jam with John Thomas and the Ramblin' Fever Band, 6 p.m. Mondays, Oxford Community Center, 4027 Main St. Oxford. $5. (560- 7946)</p><p>VETERAN MINISTRY: Christian outreach for veterans by veterans offering counseling, Bible study and prayer meeting, 7 p.m., Ocala Ritz Veterans Village, 111 NE 12th Ave., Ocala. (685-1138 or shookpointman@aol.com)</p>